Development of a teaching model for surgical endodontic access sites in the dog

A dolicocephalic canine skull was used to develop a teaching and study model for surgical endodontic access sites of the maxillary and mandibular canine teeth, the maxillary fourth premolar and the mandibular first molar teeth. Coronal endodontic access sites were created, and endodontic files were inserted through the access preparation into the root canal system. The teeth were radiographed to determine the ideal surgical access points. Barium markers were placed over these points and each tooth was radiographed again to confirm the appropriate location of the marker. Surgical accesses to the apices were created by drilling through the barium markers and underlying bone. Following localization of the apices, apicoectomies were performed, exposing the apical portion of the pulp canal. The maxillary and mandibular canine teeth, the maxillary fourth premolar tooth, and the mandibular first molar tooth and surrounding bone were harvested from a similar dolicocephalic dog following euthanasia. The specimens were embedded in methylmethacrylate, sectioned, and mounted on slides to reveal the structures located around the surgical access sites.